slisles you are right to question the responses being given to circumnavigate the problem in TT product this year. It is the program that is faulty. TT has repeatedly confirmed this for me, stating that this is a known software issue and that they are working to fix it. However, it has been four weeks since I first contacted them (and even back then this was already a known issue!) and they still haven't fixed it.
I contacted the State of Ohio Dept of Taxation twice, and both times they confirmed that they did not request the change TT has made regarding Box 16, something many board helpers have erroneously indicated as the problem. OH Dept Taxation confirmed that the blank Box 16, alongside filled Box 14 and 15, is not an error.
Over the last couple weeks when the promised fix failed to arrive and I contacted TT again, they continued to tell me they were actively working to provide a fix (and created more case numbers for it) but now they also add that they "see on the boards" that Users can get around the problem if they apply the Advisers' trick of inserting data into Box 16 from elsewhere (usually recommending data from Box 1, or Box 2a, or by inserting a null/zero.) I have a decent understanding of accounting and taxation and understand the rationale of using these numbers, and I understand that the calculations for our returns would likely work out correctly using this workaround. However, even if there's some logic to the rationale behind it, tricking the software by filing with false data is far from a comfortable choice. And besides, TT has consistently told me that they are going to fix it soon anyway. However, though I have been giving them benefit of the doubt for weeks due to my past experience with them, I now I question if they are actually giving any priority to this at all.
The second representative from State of Ohio Taxation did offer me another option. She suggested I skip TT altogether and use the State's official online filing program. Perhaps you might have a similar option. I realize much of this doesn't help you directly with the problem, but I hope it gives you a fuller understanding of the situation. I suggest you consider contacting TT directly regarding the issue, and perhaps if enough of us reach them, they will finally prioritize the fix they have been promising. As far as I understand, the only other options to TT fixing the software properly, is to either use the circumnavigating trick by reporting a number that isn't actually there, or filing using something other than TT. Best of luck!
